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Explainer: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk’s killing? Explainer: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk’s killing?
(about 5 hours later)
In his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel had suggested Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-Trump Republican In his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel suggested Trump’s Maga allies wanted to exploit the killing
Jimmy Kimmel show suspended – live updates
When announcing that it would pull Jimmy Kimmel’s programme, the TV station operator Nexstar Media Group called comments the comedian had made about the far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s death “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse”.When announcing that it would pull Jimmy Kimmel’s programme, the TV station operator Nexstar Media Group called comments the comedian had made about the far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s death “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse”.
Supporters of Donald Trump have praised the decision, and the White House deputy chief of staff called it an example of “consequence culture”. Supporters of Donald Trump have praised the decision, and the White House deputy chief of staff called it an example of “consequence culture”. However, anti-Trump politicians as well as media figures and free speech organisations have warned it is part of an effort to systematically silence Trump’s critics.
But what did Kimmel actually say to raise the ire of the Maga movement? But what did Kimmel actually say to raise the ire of the Maga (“Make America great again”) movement?
During his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel appeared to suggest Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-Trump Republican. Maga was attempting to score political points from the killing
“The Maga Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he said. During one of his evening monologues – which was released before Utah prosecutors released more information about the alleged killer, Tyler Robinson – Kimmel suggested Trump’s political movement, Maga, wanted to exploit the situation.
It appears this was the comment that most angered Trump supporters and officials. “The Maga gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he said.
In an interview on Wednesday, the Trump-appointed head of the US media regulator, the Federal Communications Commission of the United States (FCC), said it appeared to be a “concerted effort to try to lie to the American people”. It was not clear if Kimmel was suggesting Robinson was a literal supporter of Maga, or that his alleged political violence was part of a broader shift towards bloodshed and force in US politics, particularly among the far right.
Brendan Carr went on to call Kimmel’s comments an attempt to “play into a narrative that this was somehow a Maga or Republican motivated person”. Still, this comment appears to have deeply angered Trump supporters and officials.
Carr went on to threaten that if action was not taken against Kimmel, there would be “additional work for the FCC ahead”. Robinson’s motive has not been confirmed, although the top prosecutor in Utah county, where Kirk was fatally shot on 10 September, said the suspect – whose family was known to be conservative – “had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro-gay and trans rights oriented”.
He added: “It’s long past the time that a lot of these licensed broadcasters themselves … say: ‘We’re not gonna run Kimmel any more ... because we licensed broadcasters are running the possibly of fines, or licensed revocation from the FCC’.” In an interview on Wednesday, the Trump-appointed head of the US media regulator, the Federal Communications Commission of the United States (FCC), said Kimmel had made a “concerted effort to try to lie to the American people”.
The Democratic senator Ed Markey called it “censorship in action”. Brendan Carr went on to call Kimmel’s comments an attempt to “play into a narrative that this was somehow a Maga or Republican-motivated person”.
“The FCC chair threatens ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s comments. Hours later, he’s off air. It’s dangerous and unconstitutional. The message to every media company is clear: adopt the Maga line or the Federal Censorship Commission will come after you,” he added. Trump was acting like a four-year-old
Kimmel also mentioned reaction to the death of Kirk on his Tuesday programme, saying “many in Maga-land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk”. Kimmel has also mocked Trump for a specific comment he made in response to being asked by a reporter how he was personally “holding up” after the assassination of Kirk, who he has said was a friend.
Referencing the vice-president JD Vance’s comment while guest-hosting Kirk’s podcast, Kimmel said “the president and his henchmen are doing their best to fan the flames, so they can I guess attack people on the dangerous left”. Trump had replied saying he was “very good” and then immediately started boasting about the new ballroom he is building at the White House.
The Hollywood Reporter has said Kimmel was preparing to address the backlash on Wednesday night’s show and explain how his comments had been taken out of context. Its report says he was not intending to apologise for them. Kimmel said after the clip: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of somebody called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Trump is either a dictator or ‘just a dick’
Kimmel referenced an incident in which an Australian journalist was berated by Trump after he asked the US president this week how much wealthier he had become since returning to the Oval Office.
Trump accused the reporter, John Lyons, who is reporting for Four Corners, of “hurting Australia” with the line of questioning, and said that he would raise the issue with the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
Kimmel showed the clip of the exchange and mocked Trump for being a “little tattletale”.
He added: “[Trump] needs to make a decision, do you want to be a dictator or just a dick?”